The Smackdown video plays, and we’re brought into the arena to see a big pyrotechnics display. Michael Cole, Byron Saxton, and Jerry “The King” Lawler welcome us to the show. Tonight, we’ll see Roman Reigns will face the Big Show. We’ll also see Daniel Bryan take on Kane in a Casket Match. They’re billing that as the last match of their feud.

Triple H touts WWE’s success and Royal Rumble controversy

Eden Stiles asks the crowd to welcome the WWE COO Triple H to the ring. Triple H comes out to boos from the Hartford crowd. Triple H welcomes the crowd to Monday Night RAW before laughing and realizing what he said. Triple H says it’s been a crazy week. They were supposed to be there on Monday, but there was a wacky, historic snowstorm that caused them to postpone RAW. People in WWE don’t like being told what to do. When they said they couldn’t do Monday Night RAW in the middle of the blizzard, the show emanated for the first time he can remember from WWE World Headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. Tell them not to do it, and they’ll do it. A lot of people told them they couldn’t get a million subscribers to the WWE Network, but they announced this week that they do indeed have that many subscribers. To all that have subscribed, he has two words for them: Thank you (the crowd incorrectly guessed, “Suck it”). Then they told them they couldn’t do a show right here in Hartford, which is why he’s here to say, “Welcome Hartford to Thursday Smackdown live!”

It’s been a crazy week, but it’s also been a controversial week coming out of the Royal Rumble on Sunday. There are boos for that. The WWE isn’t the only one with controversy on them. The Super Bowl is this Sunday, and there is controversy swirling around the whole thing. Apparently the NFL and Roger Goodell have a problem with their balls. In the NFL, some guys like their balls soft. Some guys like their balls hard. According to Tom Brady, some of those guys like old balls. There’s one thing about WWE and Triple H: they’ve never had a problem with balls. Unlike Roger Goodell, who has controversy and does nothing, when there is controversy here, he takes action. On February 22, live on the WWE Network and the new show, WWE Fast Lane, he’s going to deal with a problem. He has a problem with a man called “Sting.” At Fast Lane, he’ll stand in this ring and go face-to-face with his problem and resolve it.

There is other controversy coming out of the Royal Rumble. There’s no controversy about the Royal Rumble event itself because it was spectacular. The fans boo, but Triple H says the triple threat match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship was one of the greatest matches he’s ever seen in his life. It was a match where Seth Rollins proved to the world that he is the future of this industry. It was a match where John Cena proved to the world that he is the past. The crowd loudly cheers that. It was a match in which Brock Lesnar proved that he is the beast and is still the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. The problem was the Royal Rumble match itself. People boo that. When the match was over, the building was rumbling. Triple H says he’s never felt anything like it in his life. People were going nuts from the top row to the bottom row. The next day, it got worse. ESPN was talking about it. Bill Simmons was talking about it. It was on everybody’s mind. If you don’t know what he’s talking about, he’ll show you. Footage is shown of the crowd turning on the Royal Rumble match, especially when Roman Reigns eliminated Big Show and Kane. The Rock then ran down to make the save, but the crowd turned on him when he endorsed Reigns. Reigns then eliminated Rusev to win the match. The crowd loudly boos the replay. Triple H says he’ll put an end to the controversy. On Monday night, he’ll make an announcement that will likely shake the WWE Universe to its core.

Roman Reigns’ music hits, and he makes his way to the ring to a very mixed reaction. As he gets in the ring, the boos are louder. Reigns stares face-to-face with Triple H. Reigns says Triple H keeps talking about controversy, but he doesn’t see any. He won the Royal Rumble match. That means he’s going to WrestleMania. Triple H says, “Indeed, you did win that match. Let’s see if you win this one.” Big Show’s music hits as Triple H leaves the ring. Big Show will face Roman Reigns, next.

-Commercial Break-

Roman Reigns vs. Big Show

The bell sounds, and Big Show quickly powers Reigns to the corner. Reigns punches out and gets away from him. They circle the ring, and Reigns ducks a clothesline. They continue to circle the ring before Big Show corners him and punches him in the midsection. Big Show sends him to the opposite corner, but Reigns sidesteps a butt bump. Reigns hits a pair of corner clotheslines before attempting a suplex. Big Show blocks it and hits one of his own. Big Show hits a body slam, but Reigns soon gets to his feet. Big Show punches away at him before sending him into the corner hard. Big Show talks a little trash. Reigns punches back at him before hitting the ropes. Big Show then takes him down with a shoulder block. Big Show connects with a head-butt before picking him up and hitting a second one. Big Show looks into the crowd before picking him up and putting him in the corner. Big Show throws him across the ring. Big Show goes for a body slam, but Reigns slides off and hits a chop block. Reigns punches away at him as the crowd boos. Reigns kicks away at him before being pushed back. Big Show punches him in the midsection before hitting the ropes, but Reigns follows him and clotheslines him over the top rope.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Reigns clutching his knee in pain. During the commercial break, Reigns clotheslined Big Show over the top rope. Later on, Big Show speared him down. Big Show continues to attack the leg before hitting a chop block. Big Show picks him up by the leg and applies a stretch. Reigns tries to pull himself up on the ropes, but he loses his balance. Reigns tries again and succeeds. Reigns then takes him out of the ring with a modified hurricanrana. Big Show kneels by the ring apron as Reigns comes outside. Reigns then hits an apron dropkick. Big Show soon comes back and throws him into the ring. Reigns goes for a clothesline, but Big Show doesn’t go down. Reigns tries again for the same result. Reigns then ducks a clothesline and takes him down with a clothesline. The crowd loudly boos him as he hits Big Show with a Samoan Drop. Big Show rolls out of the ring to recover. Reigns goes to the apron and hits a flying clothesline.

Reigns cocks his fist and goes for a Superman Punch, but Big Show counters with a Chokeslam for a near fall. Reigns spits some phlegm out and it lands in a long, sticky line on his forehead and hair. Big Show goes to the top rope, but Reigns catches him with a Superman Punch. Reigns hits a second Superman Punch before throwing him off the top rope. Reigns connects with a Spear for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Roman ReignsMatch Rating: * 1/2

Mr. McMahon is shown in a video announcing that the WWE Network will be free in February to new subscribers.

The casket is seen backstage with creepy funeral music playing and smoke around it. Daniel Bryan will face Kane in a Casket Match later tonight.

-Commercial Break-

Arnold Schwarzenegger joined “Macho Man” Randy Savage as the latest inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame: Class of 2015.

Seth Rollins issues an open challenge

Seth Rollins makes his way out to the ring with J&J Security. Rollins says he told the crowd he would. This past Sunday at the Royal Rumble, he proved once again just how good he really is. He was one second away from pinning John Cena and becoming the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion. What’s more impressive than that is he stuck a dagger right into the heart of the beast incarnate. Rollins broke Brock Lesnar’s ribs. John Cena and The Undertaker can’t say that. Even though he didn’t walk out of Philly with the championship, he still has the future firmly within his reach. Rollins holds up the briefcase. Rollins says he’s feeling so good that he’s going to issue an open challenge to anyone in this building with the guts. Rollins dares someone to come out and test him. Ryback’s music hits, and he quickly makes his way to the ring.

Before the match starts, J&J Security attacks Ryback. Ryback quickly fights them off, but Rollins takes him down with a dropkick. They triple-team him until Erick Rowan runs down. Rowan takes J&J Security out with a double shoulder block. Rollins quickly knees Rowan in the head before going back to Ryback. Dolph Ziggler runs down to help, but Rollins soon gets him out of the ring. Ryback recovers and goes for Shell Shocked, but J&J Security pull him off. They escape the ring, get away from Rowan, and retreat up the ramp.

Kane is backstage with the casket. Kane says he’ll write the final chapter of Daniel Bryan’s storied career. Surprise – there is no happy ending. Does Bryan even know what happens in a Casket Match? First, he’ll beat him far beyond the normal human capacity for pain. Then he’ll put him in the casket, shut the lid, and secure the latch. The only thing he’ll see is beautiful, black darkness. All he’ll feel is the cold, dark casket squeezing the life out of him. All he’ll hear is the frantic beating of his heart as it nearly explodes out of his chest. Bryan will wonder how many beats he has left. That’s when he’ll scratch and claw like an animal, desperate to escape. Kane tells him to not be alarmed because he’ll reach his final destination. Kane says, “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, may god have mercy on your soul because the Devil’s Favorite Demon will not.” Kane laughs as the creepy music plays.

John Cena will address Rusev and his match against him at WWE Fast Lane later tonight. The Usos make their entrance and come to the ring with Naomi. Jey Uso will be in action, next.

-Commercial Break-

Jey Uso w/ Jimmy Uso and Naomi vs. Tyson Kidd w/ Cesaro and Natalya

They circle the ring, and Kidd quickly kicks and punches him. Jey stops a whip and uppercuts him down. Jey sends him to the corner and goes to the second rope, but Kidd kicks him in the back of the knee. Kidd pulls him to the apron and pulls it over his leg before stomping away at the leg. Kidd attacks the knee and stretches it out. Jey clubs out of the hold, but Kidd soon comes back with a stomp to the injured limb. Kidd drops a pair of elbows on the knee before applying a leg lock. Jey kicks Kidd off, and he flies out of the ring. Kidd gets on the apron, and Jey punches him off. Jey goes for a suicide dive, but Kidd kicks him in the face. Kidd springboards off the top rope, but Jey moves. Jey comes back with a Samoan Drop before setting up for a hip bump. Cesaro gets on the apron, but Jey scares him away. Jimmy then jumps off the steps and takes him out. Jey runs into a dropkick into the knee. Kidd hits the Moss-Covered Three-Handled Family Credenza for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Tyson KiddMatch Rating: *

Kane is seen looking longingly into the open casket. He’ll face Daniel Bryan in a Casket Match later tonight. John Cena will address Rusev, next.

-Commercial Break-

John Cena and Rusev go face-to-face ahead of their match at WWE Fast Lane

Rusev and Lana are seen in the ring. Rusev is angrily pacing as the commentators talk about his match against John Cena at WWE Fast Lane. Rusev is muttering to himself as the fans start a USA chant. Rusev says everyone saw what happened at the end of the Royal Rumble match. Rusev says he should have been declared the winner. Lana speaks in her native tongue before Rusev takes the microphone back. Rusev says he should be facing Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania. Rusev says he is the most dominant superstar. He’s the only undefeated superstar and the United States Champion. A USA chant breaks out as he shakes his head in anger. Rusev says the USA doesn’t give him the wrestler he deserves. They gave him a man with no titles. He is a man from the past, John Cena. John Cena has not hunger or desire. Cena isn’t the superstar he is. Cena is a loser. Cena doesn’t belong in the ring with him.

John Cena’s music hits, and he comes out to his usual mixed reaction. Some fans are singing, “John Cena sucks” with his music. Cena says sometimes he and the WWE Universe don’t see eye to eye. Everyone in the building can agree that if Rusev doesn’t shut his mouth, he’ll shut it for him. This isn’t about where you’re from. Rusev needs a cold, hard lesson on the word “respect.” Rusev is undefeated and the current United States Champion. Rusev has crushed everything in his path. Rusev has made the biggest mistake of his life. Rusev says he has no desire and is a loser. Cena wants to remind him who he’s dealing with. He’s John Cena, 15-time World Champion, 2-time winner of the Royal Rumble, 10 appearances at WrestleMania, and love him or hate him, he’s the face that runs this place. He was holding the US Champion before Rusev had pubes and Lana had boobs. Cena warns him to slow his role. If Rusev doesn’t think he’s a challenge, he’ll give him a challenge right now. If he thinks he’s Fred Astaire, then he can dance like a monkey. They’re going to do the Hartford Hoedown. Cena wants to fight him right now, and he removes his shirt.

Lana takes the microphone and tells Rusev to not waste his time on this. Lana goes to leave the ring, but Rusev lingers a little longer. Rusev stares at him as Cena smirks back at him. Finally, Rusev leaves the ring and talks a little trash. Rusev and Lana back up the ramp. Cena says Rusev is undefeated, but this is not a waste of time. Cena says he’ll face Rusev and beat him at Fast Lane. Then he’ll say, “The Champ is here!”

Paige will face Nikki Bella with the WWE Divas Championship on the line at WWE Fast Lane.

Renee Young is backstage with Paige. Renee congratulates her on the opportunity at WWE Fast Lane. The Bella Twins walk up and sarcastically congratulate her. They talk about how pale Paige looks. They then make Renee leave. Nikki says they can tell she hates the sun. Paige looks like a blood sucking vampire. Paige laughs with them before slapping Brie in the face. The Bella Twins then attack her and leave her lying on the ground.

-Commercial Break-

Gold and Stardust vs. The Ascension

The Ascension are shown in a pre-taped promo. Viktor says they destroyed The New Age Outlaws at the Royal Rumble and left them begging for mercy. Konnor says they’re more like D-Geriatrics. Viktor says they’ll send Old-dust and his freak brother back to space.

Goldust and Stardust disagree over who should start the match. They agree on Stardust. Viktor will start the match against him. Viktor goes for a slam, but Stardust rolls him up for a two count. Viktor sends him into the ropes and goes for a hip toss, but Stardust blocks it and hits one of his own. Stardust yells in triumph as he waits for him to get up. Viktor stares at him. Viktor applies a waistlock, but Stardust elbows him in the face. Viktor applies a full nelson before pushing him to his corner, but Stardust punches Konnor. Viktor quickly punches him in the back of the head and stomps him. Konnor tags in and stomps away at him. Goldust is seen encouraging Stardust from the apron. Konnor uppercuts him down before choking him on the ropes. Viktor tags back in, and he body slams him down. Viktor hits a falling punch for a two count. Viktor applies a chin lock, but Stardust fights up. Viktor takes him down and tags in Konnor. Konnor goes for a back suplex, but Stardust flips through. Stardust kicks him in the head and tags in his brother.

Goldust and Viktor are in, and Goldust hits a pair of clotheslines. Goldust has a whip reversed, but he comes back with an uppercut. Goldust hits an inverted atomic drop before hitting a running boot to the head. Goldust punches away at him in the corner before having a whip reversed. Viktor then charges into a powerslam. Konnor runs in, and Goldust uppercuts him out of the ring. Goldust hits the ropes, and Stardust blind tags in. Goldust isn’t happy about that. Stardust kicks Viktor in the face before going to the top rope. Konnor knocks him off the top rope. Konnor tags in. Goldust is knocked off the apron. They then hit the Fall of Man on Stardust for the win.

Winners by Pinfall: The AscensionMatch Rating: * 1/4

Kane is seen looking longingly into the casket before laughing and slamming it shut. Kane will face Daniel Bryan in a Casket Match in the main event.

-Commercial Break-

Zack Ryder, R-Truth, Summer Rae, and Alicia Fox are watching one of the performers from “Wizard Wars” do a trick. The Miz and Damien Mizdow walk up, and Miz says he knows how he did the trick. The magician says he always wanted to do a trick for an A-lister before shaking hands with Mizdow. The magician teaches Miz how to do a trick with an egg. The magician reveals he used a real egg and smashed it on Miz’ forehead before running off.

Bray Wyatt is seen elsewhere backstage. Wyatt asks what makes you smile. Is it spending time with loved ones? Is it money or power? Perhaps it’s a memory that you hold dear, like something nostalgic from your childhood. He’s different. He finds enjoyment in the types of things your mommy and daddy have shielded you from your entire life. He’s different. He fears nothing living or dead. Wyatt asks what makes you smile. After what transpires next, he promises it’ll be hard for you to ever smile again. Wyatt growls, “Run!”

Kane’s music hit, and he makes his way to the ring. The casket is already on the ramp. Kane wheels it next to the ring. He’ll face Daniel Bryan, next.

-Commercial Break-

Casket MatchKane vs. Daniel Bryan

The match begins, and a “Daniel Bryan” chant breaks out. Bryan cautiously makes his way around Kane. Bryan is wearing the furry boots he wore at WrestleMania XXX. Bryan peppers him with kicks before ducking a clothesline and kicking him in the corner. Kane punches him back and kicks him in the midsection. Kane hits a body slam before hitting the ropes and hitting a low dropkick to the face. Kane rolls him to the casket and has the referees open it, but Bryan fights being put inside. Kane kicks him in the midsection before going for a back suplex, but Bryan backflips through it. Bryan chop blocks him before kicking him in the leg a few times. Bryan takes him down after a few kicks to the knee. Bryan rolls him to the casket, but Kane fights up and elbows him. Kane punches him back before running into a drop-toe-hold into the turnbuckle. Bryan kicks the turnbuckle into his face before hitting the ten punches in the corner. Kane pushes him off, but Bryan comes back with more punches. Each strike earns a loud “YES!” from the crowd. Kane pushes him away and goes for a Chokeslam, but Bryan kicks him away. Bryan ducks a clothesline, but Kane kicks him in the midsection. Kane goes to military press him into the casket, but Bryan slides off. Bryan dropkicks him near the casket. Bryan hits the ropes, but Kane moves away from the casket. They stare at each other as we go to commercial.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Kane put the apron over Bryan’s head and punch away at him. During the commercial, Kane sidestepped a corner dropkick. Kane goes to front suplex Bryan into the casket, but he hangs on to the apron. Kane big boots him, but Bryan still hangs on. Kane shoves him into the casket, but Bryan kicks him away from him. Bryan then runs into a big boot. Kane gets him to his feet and whips him to the corner. Kane then avalanches him and connects with a sidewalk slam. Kane tries to put him back into the casket, but Bryan fights him away. Kane throws him over the top rope, but Bryan hangs on. Bryan then skins the cat and pulls Kane into the casket, but Kane frantically crawls away from it.

Bryan takes him down with a baseball slide. Bryan goes to the top rope and takes Kane out with a cross-body block to the floor! Bryan punches away at Kane before going to the apron. Bryan leaps, but Kane catches him and drives him spine-first into the ring post. Kane big boots Bryan into the casket, but Bryan quickly gets out. Kane gets him down in the casket and tries to close it, but Bryan fights the lid up. Bryan kicks him in the face a few times and jumps out of the casket, but Kane uppercuts him out of mid-air at ringside.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the final break of the evening to see Kane trapped in a chin lock. Bryan kicks away at him, but Kane stops him and hits a running DDT. Kane kicks away at him and pushes him toward the casket. Kane chokes him with his shoe, but Bryan pushes him away. Kane stomps him before hitting a head-butt. Kane uppercuts him before hitting a short-arm clothesline. Kane sends him to the corner, but Bryan scales the ropes and backflips over him. Bryan ducks a clothesline and hits a flying elbow. Bryan gets pumped up as the fans chant “YES!” Bryan kicks away at him while he’s on his knees. Bryan gears up for a big kick, but Kane ducks it. Kane pushes him toward the ropes and charges, but Bryan pulls the top rope down to get him out of the ring. Bryan then hits a suicide dive. Bryan kicks away at him before backing up and hitting a running dropkick into the barricade. Bryan holds his neck in pain before going back to kicking and punching Kane. Bryan then runs into a back body drop into the timekeeper’s area.

Kane then throws Bryan over the commentary table. Kane grabs a steel chair and smacks it off his spine. Kane hits a second chair shot before throwing it away. Kane brings Bryan near the casket, and he orders the referees to open it up. Kane throws him headfirst into the lid of the casket before putting him back in the ring. Bryan seems knocked out. Kane gets on the apron and goes for a Tombstone Piledriver into the casket, but Bryan slides off. Bryan snaps him off the top rope, and Kane hangs on precariously near the casket. Bryan dropkicks him, but Kane hangs on. Bryan hits a second dropkick, but Kane still hangs on. Bryan goes for a third, but Kane grabs him by the throat and gives him a Chokeslam. Kane rolls Bryan into the casket, but Bryan kicks him in the head. Kane tries to grab him, but Bryan catches him with a YES! Lock while Kane is in the casket. Kane seems to be passed out. Bryan tries to close the lid, but Kane stops him. Bryan kicks away at his chest as he kneels in the casket. Kane eventually punches him away.

Kane turns him inside out with a clothesline. Kane goes for a Tombstone Piledriver, but Bryan gets out. Bryan goes for a YES! Lock, but Kane fights him away. Kane goes for a Chokeslam, but Bryan gets out. Bryan pulls the top rope down to almost send him into the casket. Bryan kicks him in the head and dropkicks him into the casket. Bryan finally closes the lid and finishes his feud with Kane!

Winner: Daniel BryanMatch Rating: **

Bryan stands on top of the casket and leads the entire arena in a “YES!” chant. Replays are shown of the end of the match. Cole says you have to wonder what Triple H is thinking about this match. They then show a replay of Triple H saying he’ll make an announcement on RAW that will shake the WWE Universe to its core. Triple H will address the Royal Rumble controversy this Monday. Bryan ends the show with a big “YES!” chant from the stage.